How is your portfolio website like a car door? Give up? At PhotoShelter, we like to use this analogy to explain how people perceive the experience of interacting with a website in ways that you may not realize or expect.

It is common for car shoppers to slam a car door and make judgments about the car based on the sound the door makes. In many cases, they have no idea that they are making a judgment when they hear that sound, but they are.

Similarly, people are judging you based on your portfolio website. Although you may expect to be judged on your images, you may not be expecting to be judged on the experience of using the website itself. Not paying attention to a few commonly overlooked details could result in fewer jobs for you.

We’ve made a list of the 11 most important considerations for any photography portfolio website. This comes from lessons learned while working with photographers and photo buyers over the past decade.

1) Clean and simple wins. Always.

Website by Travel Photographer Gavin Gough

If people are constantly praising the design of your portfolio website, then you are probably doing something wrong. Your photos are supposed to be the star of the show, so don’t clutter it up with useless design elements. If people notice the design of a site over the photography it contains, that’s a problem. The design of a website should fade into the background and not be noticed.

There is a growing trend among photographers who want to show their images at full screen. This is a departure from the past, where photographers were worried about image theft, so they intentionally made their images small. Today, it’s all about impact and getting the assignment. Larger images, they feel, make a bigger impact.

A clean website also takes things out of the way when they aren’t being used. For example, next and previous buttons can fade away until the user wants to move to the next image. They would do this by moving their mouse pointer to the left or right edges of the photo.

Another way to decrease clutter on your website is to be careful about how you watermark your images. Protecting your images from being stolen is important for many photographers, but it’s important to realize the implications of going too far. If a watermark is so large that it obscures the image, destroying the experience of viewing it, the photographer may be doing more damage than they think.

Photo by Chris Owyoung

Keep in mind that there are people out there who want to buy or license your images, and you should make it as easy as possible for them to do it. An aggressive watermarking strategy could backfire on a photographer because it could result in the image not being selected for consideration based entirely on the watermark.

2) Navigation, links, gallery titles must be easy to understand

Don’t turn your portfolio into a game of mystery. Make sure that categories, sections, labels, and navigation makes sense to everyone. Getting clever with these things might seem like a fun idea, and a way to be different, but it creates a frustrating experience for your users.

Instead, choose a word that tells a person exactly what’s on the other side of that link without even clicking on it. You should stick to terminology and wording that is familiar to the industry you are targeting.

This, of course, means that you need to know your target audience. For example, if you specialize in shooting images of insects, you should include the scientific names and classifications of them because the audience most interested in them expects to see this level of detail.

If you are a wedding photographer, for example, stick to the terms and structure that brides are familiar with. “Ceremony” and “Reception” are better choices for a collection of images than “Commitment” and “Joy.” What you think of as “clever” may end up being vague or puzzling to your users.

3) Be responsive

These days, there is more to life than a web browser. It’s important that your portfolio website functions properly across all modern devices — desktop computers; very small laptops; tablets; and mobile phones. To do this, your website should be responsive. This is a term that refers to a design approach where a website can adapt to the device being used to view it.

In other words, your website should look one way on a desktop computer, and entirely different on a mobile device. This is important because what works on a desktop computer, where there is plenty of space, will not necessarily work well on a mobile phone, where space is very limited.

A person who is visiting your website on a mobile device may have a different set of needs and expectations than a person using a desktop computer. They won’t be expecting to see your images really large because this isn’t possible. Instead, they may be looking for your contact information. Or, they may want to quickly scan your images from the comfort of their couch at home, with the intention of looking at your portfolio on a larger size screen using their computer at work the next day.

4) Edit tightly, and consider having someone else do it for you

Photographers are their own worst editors. We bring all sorts of emotional baggage to the editing process that we simply cannot be objective about our own images. How difficult it was to create an image doesn’t matter. The end result is what matters. That’s why we encourage photographers to have someone else, preferably a client instead of another photographer, edit their portfolio. An objective perspective is valuable information. And remember, “Your portfolio is only as good as your worst picture.”

In most cases, less is more. Edit tightly and remove anything that’s not your best work.

5) Contact information should be everywhere

If the goal of your portfolio is to land you assignments, then make sure a client knows how to contact you so you can actually get one. The easiest way is to include your contact details on every page of your website — including your portfolio.

Contrary to common belief, most visitors of your website don’t start their visit with your front page. Most visitors find you through search engines and end up on some inside page deep within the site.

We’re not suggesting that you make this big and bold so that it distracts viewers from your images. Include something small and subtle at the bottom of the screen that doesn’t take attention away from the images, but is there when a client decides to pick up the phone.

6) Don’t just show pictures; show that you love what you shoot

Photo by commercial photographer Jonathan Gayman

Have you ever noticed that people with passion, energy, and drive are people that everyone else wants to work with? They tend to be more optimistic and fun. Your portfolio should convey this. If you’re not 100% into what you’re shooting, then start shooting something else that is near and dear to your heart.

The general photographer population is growing larger and larger and competition is fierce. Many photographers are able to succeed in this environment because they concentrate on a niche, and carve out their own segment of the industry where there is very little competition.

Photographers often feel like they should be as general as possible with their portfolio website because they want any assignment that comes their way. They worry that someone will be scared away thinking that they aren’t capable of a particular assignment. In this situation, I suggest creating multiple portfolio websites based on a single theme or niche. If you have multiple specialties, then create multiple portfolios.

Your portfolio and your website should be able to show that you are a motivated expert in your chosen niche. You should be 100% authentic about your interest in the subject, have passion, energy, drive, and focus. Do what you love, and let that shine through in your work. People CAN see this.

If the subject doesn’t motivate you, you shouldn’t expect your viewers to be either.

7) Make sure the portfolio works on your audience’s terms

Who should be looking at your work, and what are they like? What monitor size is most common? Are they using mobile devices? What software are they using all day long, and what does their workflow process look like? Find this out, and then incorporate these things into your website design.

For example, many photo editors use software that allows them to edit images at a very quick pace using the keyboard. They are comfortable with this process. Therefore, it would be wise to make sure that they are able to advance through your portfolio by using the left and right arrow keys on a keyboard.

Photo editors and art directors have often told us that they don’t like being forced to send an email through a web form in order to contact the photographer. Instead, they want to use their own company email system to send the email because they want to be able to keep track of what they sent you, and when.

Putting your email address on a website may increase the amount of spam you receive, but ask yourself what’s more important – fighting spam, or landing an assignment.

They already have a system in place so you should fit into it instead of expecting them to fit into yours.

8) Use Captions! Text is your friend

Website by Johan Peijnenburg of NiO Photography

Don’t be afraid to put text next to your images. If you are a bad writer, ask someone for help – but do not avoid captions for your images.For starters, text is critical for search engine optimization (SEO). Text is the foundation of all search engines. Without it, you cannot be found.

Captions can also give important factual information about an image and can be used to underscore the importance of the subject matter. If you can color in the facts for the viewer, they’re more likely to understand and relate to the image.

A good caption can also contain useful information about how you work. If you’ve overcome obstacles, or were able to perform beyond expectations for a client, you can indicate this in your captions. From a client’s perspective, photographers are either problem solvers, or problem creators. Indicate that you solve problems and you’re likely to attract more clients. Captions are the perfect place for this.

9) People are impatient – don’t make them wait

In a recent photo buyer survey we conducted, What Buyers Want from Photographers, we learned that nobody likes to wait around for images to load. There is a general expectation that your website will be fast enough to keep up with whatever pace they normally maintain.

If they are forced to slow down and wait, even for 1 second, this is noticeable and it will count against you.

Test things for yourself. How long does it take for images to load?

Images should be snappy, and show up immediately without delay. Consider pre-loading the next image in a sequence while the person is looking at an image. When they hit that “next” button, the new image loads instantly. That’s a much better user experience.

10) Let people know where they are

People like to know where they are in any process or sequence. When they have this information, they feel more comfortable with the overall experience. That’s why it is important to let them know where they are in your website, and in your portfolio galleries.

Your website navigation should contain ‘breadcrumbs’, which allow them to link directly back to the start of the portfolio gallery, or back several levels to a gallery index, or even the front page of your website.

Likewise, they should know where they are in a sequence of images. If you have a portfolio gallery with 26 images, then you should let them know where they are in that sequence as they advance through it. (Example: Image 6 of 26; Image 7 of 26; Image 8 of 26; etc.)

11) Let people know where YOU are!

Don’t fall into the trap of not mentioning where you are based out of fear that you’ll never get a sweet location travel assignment. Make your home base plainly obvious, and indicate to which places you commonly travel.

Your clients want to know this information because they need to be able to manage their budget. Sometimes a photographer who is local is required and you risk being not considered for a job simply because you didn’t disclose your location.

Now take a look at your website with a fresh pair of eyes. Open and slam the door, and truly experience it. Figuring out what it’s saying about you could make a difference in your bottom line.

Your time is valuable, so stop wasting it on tasks that can be automated in Lightroom. Photography workflow and digital asset management expert Jared Platt will join us to discuss the most effective ways to automate the mundane tasks in the everyday photography workflow, and even your portfolio management.

In this live webinar onTuesday September 24th at 4pm ET, Jared will show us his organization within Lightroom, present a live demo of his workflow, and more. Join us to learn essential, time-saving workflow tips from the self-proclaimed “efficiency junkie.”

Your website is arguably your most important business tool. It’s the one place you can feature your images, your brand, your achievements and your personality. But if you can’t articulate your big picture business goals – including the clients you want – it will be a challenge to create a website that attracts the right audience.

Whether you’re considering upgrading your website, or just need a refresh, PhotoShelter’s new Photography Website Bootcamp can help kick your site into high gear – and do the hard selling for you. The Bootcamp includes three weekly emails packed with both written and video interviews featuring photo consultants, photo editors, webmasters, and business-savvy photographers.

Week 2: “Get Hired – Appeal to Photo Buyers & Future Clients” includes insights from photo buyers worldwide on what makes for an outstanding website, as well as what the Director of Photography at Sports Illustrated looks for in the photographers he hires.

Week 3: “Get Down To Business – Steps to Improve Your Website” has the concrete tips for building a better website, including the top 11 things to hep you attract more clients and encourage return visitors with your website’s design and functionality, and some telling before-and-after examples of defunct websites turned great.

So don’t delay (or procrastinate!). The Photography Website Bootcamp will help break down what you need to do to improve your website, no hard coding or mental sweating required.

]]>http://blog.photoshelter.com/2013/09/photoshelter-bootcamp-helps-kick-website-high-gear/feed/1Photo Portfolio Tips: Setting the Tone and Refining an Audiencehttp://blog.photoshelter.com/2013/09/photo-portfolio-tips-setting-the-tone-and-refining-an-audience/
http://blog.photoshelter.com/2013/09/photo-portfolio-tips-setting-the-tone-and-refining-an-audience/#commentsFri, 06 Sep 2013 17:38:58 +0000http://blog.photoshelter.com/?p=31497Amanda Sosa Stone has been working with award-winning photographers from around the world for over 10 years. Based in Florida, as a freelance consultant, she works with visual artists who span media and is the in-house marketing and industry consultant for Agency Access.

Amanda can approach photography with both the unbiased view of a marketer and the heart of a dedicated artist.That’s why we asked her to give us tips on how photographers can refine their audience, set a solid tone for their portfolio and take their work to the next level to attract clients they want.

Photo by Jason Myers

How does a photographer refine an audience and find a spot in the marketplace?

First, a photographer needs to be able to clearly describe the client he wants to go after and the work he has to offer that client. I always ask a photographer: Where were you, where are you now, and where do you want to go?

Where they are now versus where they want to go becomes an equation that can show whether they’re heading in the direction that they want. I check to see if a photographer has content to support what they want to do.

That’s how you define your target audience. Is the work there, do you understand the dream versus the reality, and how does your location factor in? Once you can answer those questions you can refine.

Photo by Jason Myers

How do you set the tone of your portfolio?

I think that people often try to assume what they think their target audience wants. Whether it’s someone who wants to shoot for ESPN or do wedding photography, it doesn’t matter—photographers assume the bride wants X and that ESPN wants Y.

I actually do the opposite. At the end of the day, they’re hiring you for your style. You have to really pull back from showing clients what you assume they want and instead show them what they want but in your own style. That’s a hard distinction to make.

People will tell me that they’re ready to gut their portfolio for an upcoming meeting with a potential client and turn it into something they think that particular client wants to see. I think that’s fine for an iPad portfolio, but I advise not to gut your primary portfolio because that portfolio embodies your style as a photographer. Of course, I’ve done “safe” edits too; sometimes you have to. But I always tell photographers to know the direction you want to go in and know how you will explain it using your own visual voice.

Photographers wear their hearts on their sleeves; their art is their life, and they want everyone to approve. There’s no way every client can love you. You have to be bold enough to tailor your portfolio to yourself.

Photo by Jason Myers

How do you recommend going about the actual editing?

I use Adobe Bridge because I really like to work in a hands-on way and also because I’ve just used it for so many years. But I do also use Aperture for building portfolios. I have lots of clients who use Lightroom. I think you have to use whatever you’re comfortable with.

The software doesn’t matter as much as the person doing the editing. You have to be emotionally removed from the process. I tell my clients to send me content that’s edited down to what they love, what they like, and what they’re not sure what to do with. That starts to remove the emotional filters. I then ask them to consider why they love an image—was it because of the experience of the shot (which doesn’t translate to the viewer) or was it because it represents exactly where they want to go?

How do photographers decide the number of photos to include in their portfolio?

Because the number of photos you can include in your portfolio can be unlimited, photographers sometimes think that’s an invitation to share everything. But they need to think when curating: What happens if I only have two minutes to connect with a potential client? What do they need to see?

For the person who has two minutes and wants to hire a photographer you’ve got to really sell them. And two minutes is generous. I would say it’s more like selling someone in the first two to five clicks.

I remind photographers that they can’t always verbally walk someone through an online portfolio. You can add a caption and information, but someone has to be able to look at an image and walk away with a story. They should feel like they know who you are. That’s when you’ve done a great edit.

Portrait and editorial photographer Jason Myers has been in the business for just a few years. He’s based out of Florida, not in a prime location, but it could be used to his benefit. So we hired Alexandru Vita from PhotoShelter, to completely gut Jason’s website portfolio. We went through the whole process of refining his target audience. When I highlighted the work he had, he said, “That’s not what I want to be. I want to be a portrait photographer.”

Over the span of six weeks, Jason shot about 80 portraits. Now that’s serious dedication. He was determined to get what he wanted. And he got picked for PDN’s “The Shot” and landed his dream client, Garden & Gun Magazine.

Photo by Jason Myers

]]>http://blog.photoshelter.com/2013/09/photo-portfolio-tips-setting-the-tone-and-refining-an-audience/feed/2Winning Jobs Through Personal Projectshttp://blog.photoshelter.com/2013/09/winning-jobs-through-personal-projects/
http://blog.photoshelter.com/2013/09/winning-jobs-through-personal-projects/#commentsFri, 06 Sep 2013 16:59:40 +0000http://blog.photoshelter.com/?p=31492Jonathan Gayman is an editorial photographer and PhotoShelter member whose primary focus is food. Coming from a graphic design background (with lots of experience running a successful blog), Jonathan went full-time as a photographer in 2006. Based in St. Louis, it was during a meeting with a prospective client that he pulled out his portfolio and described for them a personal project he’d been working on: lunch trays. In the series of five images, shot from above, Jonathan re-imagined the classic hot lunch served on a tray. In one image, bright red crawfish, a massive po’ boy and a glass of beer sit on a white tray set against a white background.

Photo by Jonathan Gayman

A few months after the meeting, the client called Jonathan and asked if he could recreate the lunch tray shoot for their magazine. By taking a gamble and investing the time in a project that could showcase his personal style and creativity, Jonathan was able to push his career in a new direction.

We talked to Jonathan about what it took to make this project happen, how he decided to include the work in his primary portfolio, and how he used his resources creatively to turn a personal project into exactly the kind of job he’d like to shoot.

How did it happen that you got a job from this personal project?

St. Louis Magazine is not one of my main clients, but I’ve worked with them a couple of times. When I showed them the book that had the lunch trays, we were in a face-to-face meeting. As I was going through the book I explained that it was a personal project that I’ve been working on. They thought the images were eye-catching and different.

About a month or two later they called and said they had a new lunch tray project and wanted me to shoot for it. The job was for a local health food chef who was doing lunches for one of the local charter schools. The concept wasn’t exactly the same as what I’d done, but they wanted me to replicate the same style.

Photo by Jonathan Gayman

What was your goal in doing that lunch tray project?

I always have a greater goal in mind when working on personal projects. Right now I’m doing a lot of editorial work. I’ve been shooting food just over two years now, and before that I was still doing a lot of corporate portraiture. One of the goals of this project was to broaden my scope to the more lucrative commercial area. I like to keep in mind when doing personal projects that I’m doing it not just for me but also to have work that can speak to the type of clients that I want to work with and show the type of work I want to be doing.

How did you decide to treat it as a professional shoot?

The idea to do this lunch tray project was something that I had been batting around. I keep a notebook where I write down concepts and things that I want to shoot. I was getting into the idea of this project, and it crossed my mind that I could do it all myself, but the end product wouldn’t be very shiny. So I decided to amp it up a little bit and I brought in a food stylist. She is new to the field and was looking for experience so it was a perfect excuse to try working together to see if we had chemistry. This is another big thing when working with a food stylist, because it has to be someone you can work with.

Together we walked through the project like it was a commercial shoot, as if we had this brief and wanted to do five shots (a number we got down from seven).

It turned into a good experience on a lot of different levels. The end product turned out well, I got to make the images I liked, and the food stylist ended up getting another commercial gig out of it, too.

Photo by Jonathan Gayman

Spending time and money on a personal project could seem like a gamble. Did you factor it into a marketing budget, and did you have a specific return on the investment that you were hoping for?

The investment was pretty minimal on this project. The food stylist agreed to work as a test, and the food wasn’t a huge expense. I worked it all into my marketing budget.

I wasn’t looking to gain a whole lot directly from the project. I wasn’t expecting to get a job based specifically on those images. It just worked out that way. And that one job pretty much covered the cost of the whole project.

When I’m doing these personal projects the time investment is the biggest expense. It’s always hard to block out time to do a personal project, so I treat them like regular assignments. I put them in my calendar and keep them in my database. If I don’t, they just don’t get done.

How did you decide to include the personal project in your main portfolio?

The two books I usually bring are “food and lifestyle” and “corporate portraits.” Sometimes people want to see how I do portraiture. So when they, say do you only shoot food? I can respond, “Well, I do portraiture; do you want to see it?” As far as personal projects go, though, I just fit it in wherever it works.

Photo by Jonathan Gayman

How do you decide what personal projects to include in your portfolio?

On my website I have personal projects and non-personal projects. I try to cycle images in and out. I have a scheduled monthly portfolio review on my to-do list. It doesn’t always happen, but it’s on my list, and I get an alert at the beginning of every month. I don’t do a full refresh — I just like to be constantly thinking about what’s working and making sure that the site is up to date. I do think that there should be some consistency on the site. If someone visits randomly and then comes again two months later and doesn’t see anything that they recognize, it’s like they’re coming for the first time. Looking at the site once a month also helps me to see an image that’s maybe not so strong. I can say to myself, “OK, you’ve been hanging onto this image too long. You put it up because you thought it was cool a long time ago, but maybe it’s time to take that down and replace it with something better.”

Check out more great work from Jonathan Gayman by visiting his Beam portfolio website here.

Photo by Jonathan Gayman

]]>http://blog.photoshelter.com/2013/09/winning-jobs-through-personal-projects/feed/19 Features Every Photography Website Needs Nowhttp://blog.photoshelter.com/2013/09/9-features-every-photography-website-needs-now/
http://blog.photoshelter.com/2013/09/9-features-every-photography-website-needs-now/#commentsTue, 03 Sep 2013 17:42:02 +0000http://blog.photoshelter.com/?p=31159Do you typically update your photography website on looks alone? Silly snapper! There is so much more to consider when putting together your website. Here’s a handy guide. How many crucial features do you have?

1. Responsive Web Design

What exactly is a “responsive” website? It’s a website design that changes based the device that is being used to view it. For example, a typical website design doesn’t look so great on a phone. The same website without gesture controls on a tablet also fails to take advantage of the device’s paradigm. And, a person viewing your site on a 27″ iMac has more screen real estate than an 11″ laptop. Scaling images, reflowing columns, device awareness – these define responsive website design. Since mobile browsing is projected to surpass computer-based browsing in the next few years (if not sooner), you need to make sure your work looks great from any device. Hint: If you have a Flash website, it ain’t responsive.

2. Search

http://archive.lincolnbarbour.com/

How many times did you google something today? Search is ubiquitous in the information age, yet so few photography sites have search capabilities. And as we add more photos to our sites, search become a necessary means of finding and navigating content.

3. Sales

http://andrewstrain.photoshelter.com/

It’s hard work getting people to your website with all the distractions on the web. You should make a point of trying to turn passive visitors into paying clients as often as possible. But to do that, you’re gonna need a website that allows you to sell images. Don’t fall into the old trap of strictly using your website as an online portfolio. That’s so last century.

4. Private Galleries

Whether you’re a pro or amateur, you will undoubtedly need to show someone images that aren’t meant for the general public. Definitely a better option than tweeting your nude selfies.

5. High Res Downloads

http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse

Sure, you could use file delivery services to send images to your clients (or your mom), but maintaining a consistent brand is a hallmark of good marketing. Plus, a photo website can display preview images, captions/meta data, and offer a number of different download sizes, which makes life a lot easier for clients who don’t know what to do with a 36MP file.

6. Social Media Integration

http://keithbedford.photoshelter.com/

What’s good for other sites is good for your site. See all those Facebook like buttons on your favorite news site? That tweet button on the crowdfunding site? You might have even clicked those buttons yourself. Let other people help your photos go viral by adding social media integration into your website.

7. SEO

If someone searches for you on the Internet and you aren’t found, do you cease to exist? Pretty much. Although building good Search Engine Optimization requires a number of factors, your website needs to place key information in known formats for search engines to find and index you.

8. Analytics

A website is a marketing tool for your photography, whether your a pro or not. Can you imagine investing time and money into a marketing campaign without knowing how it’s performing? That’s like TV without Nielsen numbers, radio without the Billboard charts, or a website without, well, analytics. Robust packages like Google Analytics are free, so what’s your excuse?

9. Copyright Notices/Image Security

http://www.robertcaplin.com

Image theft is rampant on the web, and while you might not pursue every infringement you find, you should maximize your chances when you do decide to go the legal route. Registering your images with the Copyright Office and posting that copyright on your images gives you both statutory protection (up to $150k per infringement) plus Digital Millenium Copyright Act protection (up to $12,500 per infringement) if the copyright information is removed. Interest piqued?

Extra tip: Beam websites have all the above features, and more. Bold, beautifully designed sites combined with the power of PhotoShelter’s ecommerce, file delivery, and online marketing tools. What’s not to love?

Documentary photographer Crystal Street is constantly on the move. Ever since she graduated college, she’s been working throughout the developing world documenting the cultural preservation of post-conflict communities – in Nepal, India, Indonesia, Egypt, Israel, and more.

“My passion lies in documenting the human condition, in its most natural and uninhibited form,” says Crystal. “My style is based on this belief and my job is to document the story, with any and all means necessary.”

Given her somewhat nomadic lifestyle, Crystal has worked to build a steady and holistic presence online. In addition to her online portfolio, she also had a WordPress blog, Tumblr blog, Vimeo, and over a thousand followers on Twitter. Crystal is also a longtime PhotoShelter member, but she was looking for a way to combine her presence on all platforms into one single location.

That’s when Beam caught her attention. The new platform, powered by PhotoShelter, gave Crystal a way to marry all of her content and online presence. Now her portfolio, blog, videos, and archive live under one site – thanks to the new integrations offered by Beam.

We spoke with Crystal to learn more about her decision to “switch” to Beam:

What was your first impression of the new designs on Beam?

I loved the new designs! I had no intention of redesigning my site until I saw the new templates – and then I just couldn’t resist. The layouts are clean, minimalist and display the visual content in an appealing and logical manner. Most of my work is black and white and has a lot of visual content to digest, so the layout allows people to sit with the image without distractions or a multitude of links to draw them away from the image.

The portfolio page on Beam’s “Promenade” template features a photo wall collage of thumbnails from all featured galleries.

Why did you choose the “Promenade” template for your new Beam website?

The homepage is what sold me on the Promenade template. I like the juxtaposition between the homepage and the tiled portfolio page. I also like the full-width layout of just one image. Many sites use a full width layout of the entire portfolio as the homepage and can bog the site down before you even get a feel for the type of artwork being presented. If I have to wait for content to load (which I really don’t like having to do) I want to know that this content fits the style I’m seeking.

When viewing a single image, viewers can use the filmstrip at the bottom to scroll through the gallery.

How do you think your clients will perceive the new design?

I’m hoping they’ll like the design for the same reasons I do – clean, simple layout with easy navigation elements.

What new Beam integrations do you find most exciting?

The video integration [with Vimeo] was by far the most useful feature for me. The last time I built my PhotoShelter site, I remember spending hours importing the Vimeo embed code into the page and wrestling with the layouts. For that reason, I never kept that portion of my site updated. Now, the automatic import from Vimeo does all the work. And it looks fantastic!

Crystal uses Beam’s integration with Vimeo to showcase her videos.

The mobile responsiveness on my iPad is also fabulous. Having a responsive site is essential and it’s nice to have my PhotoShelter site functioning well on mobile devices. I strongly believe that businesses and artists are losing a lot of traffic due to non-responsive websites. Last time I checked my analytics, more than half of my traffic was arriving on my site from a mobile device – that’s huge!

How did you find the process of building and customizing your new site?

The switch to Beam took me less than an hour. And part of that time was spent tinkering with blog feeds and reorganizing some old galleries. I build WordPress sites for clients needing basic websites and I truly wish the experience was this simple. If Beam had been around years ago, I wouldn’t have even bothered learning WordPress. I think the challenge for me will be not changing the site with each theme update. I tend to renovate my photography websites the same way some women redecorate their bathrooms- so I think Beam could be dangerous for me – in a good way.

I love having my database of images at my fingertips whenever – and wherever – I need them. For a documentary photographer who travels often, this is essential. As is the ability to connect that database with buyers and clients. Knowing that I can simply send them a private gallery of their images or connect them with the image they are seeking is huge. I’m also launching a documentary family sessions project to help fund more documentary work and PhotoShelter’s e-commerce capability is a huge component in my workflow. The improvements made to the shopping cart functions over the years have been great, and I’m loving the way the self-filled orders and partner vendors are set up. And the customer service rocks! I’ve been a happy customer since 2007, so I really love just about all of PhotoShelter.

Crystal has a fine art gallery that priced for print sales using PhotoShelter’s built-in shopping cart.

]]>http://blog.photoshelter.com/2013/07/traveling-documentary-photographer-why-i-switched-to-beam/feed/1How To Attract Clients With Great Custom Web Pageshttp://blog.photoshelter.com/2013/07/how-to-attract-clients-with-great-custom-web-pages/
http://blog.photoshelter.com/2013/07/how-to-attract-clients-with-great-custom-web-pages/#commentsMon, 22 Jul 2013 14:14:30 +0000http://blog.photoshelter.com/?p=30574As much as we talk about how important your business’ unique branding is for your website, the truth is that a custom logo and carefully selected fonts and colors can only do so much to help clients determine whether you’re the right person for the job.

Savvy business owners try to anticipate new clients’ questions and concerns, and address those right on their website. They also have a voice – and while we’re image makers at heart, having a way with words will give clients a sense for who you are as a photographer and overall person. If you keep them interested and they like what they see, you’re that much more likely to get the job.

For all the reasons above and more, it’s only to your advantage to use the extra pages built into your website template provider’s platform so you can add and easily customize pages with additional details about you and your business. The type of information you display will obviously depend on your specialty – for example, fine art photographers might choose to put up details on printing options, while wedding photographers might showcase their package offerings.

Many website providers (like Photoshelter!) offer extra pages alongside the standard portfolio pages on your website, and ideally you won’t need any coding experience to customize them. With Beam, PhotoShelter’s new platform for online portfolio websites, you get an unlimited number of custom pages to do just that.

You have three options to use these “pages” (some are actual pages, while others look like pages but point to an external link):

Page: Use a standard WYSIWYG editor (similar to what you see in many blogging platforms) or access the HTML code for additional customization.

Link: Simply link out to an external page such as your blog, your agency representation, etc).

Menu: Create a dropdown menu that houses other pages.

We’ve rounded up a handful of PhotoShelter members who are using Beam’s new website platform for their portfolios, and taking full advantage of the custom pages feature. Check out a few of our favorites for some inspiration when building your site.

Former Air Force photographer Stacy Pearsall is a highly regarded freelance photographer, author, educator, and public speaker. She’s received numerous honors, such as NPPA’s Military Photographer of the Year, and published two books on her experiences in combat behind the camera.

Stacy Pearsall is using Beam’s “Marquee” template

Stacy has spoken at a number of different events, including the Deloitte National Leadership Conference. She uses one of custom pages to include more information about her speaking engagements, and how interested parties can contact her.

Stacy uses one of her custom pages to display info on her speaking engagements

Nature photographer Peter Hewitt spent 30 years as a scientist before rediscovering his love for photography. He sells a variety of prints and products through his PhotoShelter website, and also exhibits at galleries and shows nationwide.

Peter Hewitt is using Beam’s “Element” template

Peter promotes what he calls the “Peter Hewitt Print of the Month Collection” using one of his custom pages. Every month he features a different print matted and framed on 18×24 inch fine art paper. Peter also shares the story behind the image on this page, and links buyers to where they can make purchases. It’s an effective way to drive more print sales.

Dean Oros works as both a commercial and lifestyle and wedding photographer. His clients include private commissioners, art collector, and corporations.

Dean Oros is using Beam’s “Element” template

Dean also offers photography workshops in Toronto for beginner SLR camera users. He uses one of his custom pages to promote the workshop (called Foto Skool), and has used basic HTML to include images, videos, and even a registration form.

German photojournalist Benjamin Hiller has an impressive list of editorial clients worldwide. While he also includes the list on his About page, Benjamin takes advantage of a linked custom page to direct visitors to a gallery featuring tearsheets of his published work.

Benjamin Hiller is using Beam’s “Marquee” template

Here, Benjamin is linking directly to one of his PhotoShelter galleries where he’s uploaded PDFs of his tearsheets. It’s a great way to show off your previous work and help potential new clients visualize how your work could be a good fit for them.

Rick Brown worked in biotech for much of his life before returning to pursue photography full-time. Moose Photos contains his wildlife stock imagery, including architecture, landscapes, and macro work.

Rick Brown is using Beam’s “Shuffle” template for his Moose’s Photos website

To help direct visitors to his social media – specifically Google+ and Facebook – Rick customized a dropdown menu on his new Beam site and included links out to his pages. Every Beam website comes social media sharing buttons for your visitors to share your galleries and images to their social media accounts, so this is an easy way to make sure visitors are also aware of your social media presence.

Rick of Moose’s Photos uses a custom menu to direct visitors to his Google+ and Facebook pages

Using basic HTML, Neil built a newsletter signup page where visitors can enter their contact information and get on his list. He directs people here by linking out to the signup page from his main navigation.

Neil has a newsletter signup page that he links to from his site’s main navigation.

Swiss freelance photographer Andreas Mueller’s passion lies in nature and travel photography. His marine and underwater work has been published on diving and traveling blogs. Andreas’ photobook, The Heart Of The Coral Triangle, features his expedition to some of the most remote scuba diving locations in South East Asia.

Andreas Mueller is using Beam’s “Promenade” template

Andreas uses one of his custom pages to highlight his photobook, and drive visitors to his Blurb page where they can purchase it. The custom page even includes an embedded slideshow from his Blurb site that lets visitors preview the book.

Andreas promotes his photobook using one of his custom pages

General tips for custom pages

Custom pages feature a WYSIWYG editor – hover over the various icons for a tool tip on what each one does (font color, paragraph styling, etc.).

The menu option is great for grouping together relevant pages – i.e. links to your social media pages or links to specific images for which you’re offering limited edition prints or stock images.

To add an image to the WYSIWG editor on a custom page, follow these steps:

1) Upload the image(s) to an unlisted but visible to “everyone” gallery in your Image Browser. Make sure the images are marked as “searchable” (indicated by the magnifying glass in the right pane of the Image Browser).

2) Select the image in the center pane and click the Actions dropdown, then select “Embed”.

3) Copy the code next to Image Link.

4) Return to the WYSIWG editor and click the icon for inserting images. Paste the code, and delete everything but the link.

5) Click “Insert”. You can change the placement of the image (i.e. Left, Center, Right alignment) by clicking on the image. You can also link the image to another page.

You can link to any of the Archive pages in your main nav. Simply copy the link from the page you’d like to link to (for example, Client Login or Gallery List pages), and create a new custom page that links out.

You can embed any number of different content feeds, as long as the app makes the embed code available. A great example is Twitter. Log into your Twitter account and head over to Settings>Widgets. Click “Create New”, choose your configuration options, and then grab the embed code. You can input this into the HTML of your custom page’s WYSIWG editor.

For more information on custom pages and customizing your Beam site with PhotoShelter, please visit our Beam FAQs page. As always, if you have any questions please feel free to contact us at support@photoshelter.com.

Award-winning photographer Robin Moore says that he ” immediately liked Beam’s website design because of the strong emphasis on the images themselves.” After all, your portfolio should do the heavy lifting when it comes to showcasing your work in the best way possible.

Most prospective clients spend an average of 30 seconds to a minute on a website before they decide to leave, so you should be investing in a portfolio website that will “wow” visitors and inspire them to learn more about you and your work.

Over the years, photo buyers have shared their thoughts on what makes a great website. The response was clear: buyers prefer sites that are simple and easy to navigate, load fast, are iPad/tablet compatible, and showcase your brand’s personality.

If you’re looking for a bold and striking way to get your work out there, then Beam might be right for you. Beam is PhotoShelter’s new portfolio website platform that lets photographers easily create beautiful, responsive websites that take advantage of today’s top technology trends. That means showcasing your images at their highest quality, with simple navigation between various portfolio galleries, and the ability to showcase videos, your blog, and even your Instagram feed from within your site. Says Robin, “Beam is exactly what I was looking for in an online portfolio.”

Robin is using Beam’s “Marquee” template design, featuring full-bleed image presentation on the homepage that really lets your images do the talking. This particular template (one of our now available with Beam) is ideal for photographers who shooting styles are varied – the tab-based navigation lets visitors easily browse different specialties and projects.

We spoke with Robin to learn more about his decision to use the new portfolio websites offered by Beam.

Why did you choose the “Marquee” template for your new Beam website?

I want a site that brings the best out of my images and I felt that the new designs achieved this. Size sometimes does matter – and I like my images to be viewed as large as possible. Marquee was the ideal template for showcasing my images at full screen without unnecessary distracting elements. I liked many of the features of this template, especially the ease of transitioning from the homepage into my featured galleries.

How do you think your clients will perceive the new design?

I expect they will love it. It is a more streamlined visiting experience, and I think it will be easier for the clients to get a feel for my work and to find the images they are looking for. The easier I can make life for the clients in finding what they need, the better.

What new Beam integrations do you find most exciting?

I never really missed having video integration in the past – but now that Vimeo seamlessly integrates into my site, I can’t believe I never had this before. I am excited by the potential to showcase moving as well as still images. The mobile compatibility is also a must these days – I think this is a deal maker on these new sites.

How did you find the process of building and customizing your new site?

I have overall found the process of customizing the new site very intuitive. I am very grateful that no knowledge of code is needed to make the changes I want to make. In the past I integrated WordPress with Photoshelter, and that extra step just increased the chances of something going wrong. And when things did go wrong, I could never be sure if it was on the WordPress or the Photoshelter end. The new customization interface has streamlined the process for me – meaning less time fiddling with websites and more time out shooting!

I have always valued the ability to store my entire archive of images on Photoshelter, safely and securely, and to share galleries and lightboxes with clients from anywhere with an Internet connection. I travel a lot internationally, and the capability to quickly and easily share images with clients directly from my website is a wonderful tool. I am excited by the fact that my image archive is now also my primary online portfolio.